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Govt stands by school zoning policy despite reports of cheating
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A teacher talks to new students during a school orientation program on July 10, 2023, for the 2023-2024 school year at SMP Negeri 14 state junior high school in Denpasar, Bali. Antara/Nyoman Hendra Wibowo (Antara/Nyoman Hendra Wibowo)
T
he government is planning to stick with its controversial zoning system for state school enrollment, arguing that it remains key to addressing Indonesia's long-standing education disparities, despite a recent string of complaints from parents that the policy is susceptible to cheating and bribery.
The zoning enrollment system, also known as PPDB zonasi, was presented as a way to ensure more equitable access to state schools when it was introduced in 2017 by then-education minister Muhadjir Effendy, who is now the coordinating human development and culture minister.
Under the policy, schools are required to give a large part of their seats to students who live in the vicinity and a smaller number to students on academic merit in the hope of eliminating so-called “favorite schools” that only accept high-performing students.
But more than six years after its introduction, the zoning system is once again under public scrutiny. In recent weeks, reports have emerged from across the country that students have been admitted based on false addresses, after paying bribes or through nepotism.
The Bogor Education Agency, for instance, reported that the parents of 153 students gave false addresses on their family cards (KK) to appear is if they were living near their preferred schools.
Meanwhile, the Banten Ombudsman said it had received reports of some state high schools in the province asking for bribes of up to Rp 8 million (US$529) in exchange for enrolling students.
Read also: Government revises school zoning policy after public uproar
